New York residents working in nursing homes have a great deal of responsibility. People trust nursing home staff to take care of their loved ones when they can no longer take care of themselves.
As a nursing home worker, you are held to a high standard of care when it comes to running your nursing home and caring for your patients. If someone believes you have not met your standard of care, you could be accused of abuse or neglect.
Remember that your residents are in poor health
Many nursing home residents are fragile and suffer from various medical conditions. Their delicate state can make them more susceptible to injuries.
There are many things that you can do to reduce the chance of an injury to your nursing home patients.
You should focus on both the safety of the general nursing home environment and the safety of each individual patient.
Promote safety and reduce hazards
Make sure your nursing home facility has safety measures and equipment in place to prevent accidents. Regularly assess the physical environment and remove any potential hazards that could cause slips or falls.
Train your staff on how to reduce the chance of injuries. Your training should include education on the proper ways to treat patients and help them with everyday tasks, such as dressing or eating.
You do not want a nursing home resident to accuse one of your staff members of nursing home abuse because the staff member was not trained on the best way to do something. The resident might think they are intentionally trying to hurt them.
Get to know your patients and their health needs
Meet with each patient regularly and assess their health needs and concerns. Figure out how you can make your environment safer for them and carefully and consistently monitor their medications.
Sometimes injuries occur because lack of mobility worsens a patient’s health. Consider having exercise programs available for patients.
Taking these steps can help reduce your chances of a nursing home abuse or neglect claim due to a resident’s injury.